Our Vineyard

Our vineyard is found in the Bridge Pa Triangle Wine Growing District of Hawkes Bay. The area is found some 15Km West of the city of Hastings and makes up part of the Heretaunga Plains. The soils for this area were laid down over ten thousand years ago when the Ngaruroro River gently wound its way through a valley on the western edge of the Heretaunga Plains. In time the river changed it’s course, leaving gravel soils and low fertile land.

The Cardoness vineyard, named after an old family holiday location on the South-West Coast of Scotland, was purchased by Chris and Sonya Wilcock in 1999 as bare land. Work didn't start until 2005 on developing the 25 acre vinyard that stands today. In November 2021, we purchased the vineyard from Chris and Sonya and are excited about the amazing opportunity to further develop the winery to be enjoyed with friends and family.

Sited on the exceptionally freedraining red-metal soils, consisting of gravel subsoil with a wind blown looes topsoil. This low vigour site is prefectly suited to the production of premium Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Hot summer days and a long cool autumn allow us to maximise physiological ripeness, creating wonderfully complex wines.